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Shaun Edwards
Benny’s
advice to Edwards
By David
Haynes
Shaun
Edwards
FORMER ENGLAND SKIPPER Shaun Edwards won’t follow the lead of long-time teammates Ellery Hanley and Andy Gregory and leap straight into the cauldron of First Grade coaching.
Edwards, who is on a whirlwind two-week trip to Australia learning from master coach Wayne Bennett, will instead opt for a junior position. “I’m very interested in coaching the under 16, 17, 18 and 19 sort of age group, and serve an apprenticeship which I’ve been advised to do by Wayne Bennett,” Edwards said. “Hopefully (I’ll) move on to
the bigger scene later on.”While adamant he’ll start at the lower rung of professional coaching, Edwards says several Northern Ford Premiership clubs have already approached him. “I’ve had quite a few offers from Northern Ford Premiership clubs already,” he said.
“But to be honest, it wasn’t something I wanted to do at the time. I’ve spoken to a lot of people who’s opinions I respect (and they) feel that to achieve your potential as a coach you must have a period with the lower grades instead of going straight in to first grade football which some
ex-internationals have done in the past.”
It seems being overlooked for a coaching job at London was a blessing in disguise for the Englishman. “I did apply for the London Broncos coaching job as a joint coach with Peter Gill,” Edwards admits. “We didn’t get the job so obviously that didn’t come to fruition. But having spoken to Wayne Bennett in the meantime, he feels I should do
at least a year or two with the lower grades and younger age groups before I move into the first grade situation.”
During his brief stay downunder, Edwards has been a keen observer of the Broncos, a club he tags the ultimate league outfit. “My situation has just been observing really,” he said. “I’ve just been sitting back watching and learning. I’ve had quite a few one to ones with Wayne where he’s passed his advice down, and have just been watching how probably the most professional organisation in rugby league history is
run.”
And how does one of the most committed pommie players of the modern era feel about the Aussie coaching invasion of the mother country?
“Basically I think you should get the best man for the job,” he said.
“But I do feel that they (Super League) should have a rule that if the head coach is an Australian his assistant should be English, so you’re kind of grooming an English coach of the next generation.”
Who knows? That next generation English coach might just be Edwards –time will tell.
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